Page 99 - AIT0720_E-Paper

Entwurf • Design Meier Unger Architekten, Leipzig
Bauherr • Client Familie Vogt, Leipzig
Standort • Location Leipzig
Wohnfläche • Living space 40 m 2
Fotos • Photos Philip Heckhausen, CH-Zürich
Mehr Infos auf Seite • More info on page 126

HOUSE VOGT

IN LEIPZIG

Turquoise, red and white—the new extension to the
Vogt family's house has a self-confident appearance
and the charm of a summer house. The colourfulness
of the beautiful gem in the garden underlines its inde-
pendence and the variety of its uses. Meier Unger Ar-
chitekten created a place that can be used by all family
members at the same time at any time of day or year.

T he original building project, which involved simply renewing the
roof of an already existing extension, quickly turned into a major
undertaking. Deep cracks and a defective foundation led to the decision
to develop a new building to accommodate the family’s kitchen area.
Jan Meier and Lena Unger designed a self-contained solution, which is
attached to the back of the main residential building. Cooking and ea-
ting, playing and learning, reading and discussing, on one’s own or in
a large group—the needs of the family of four are as varied as its indivi-
dual members, yet all find room to express themselves in the spatially
limited extension. An unusually diverse range of materials, colours and
surfaces was used to build this small annex. A slender, cantilevered,
red-painted and metal-covered roof rises above the outer shell. The
outer walls are designed as tongue and groove wood panelling and
painted in white and turquoise stripe pattern. Three differently designed
windows ensure that the room is bathed in a different lighting mood at
any time of day. In the morning, light enters through the skylights of the
dormer window, while at noon the sun appears in front of the terrace
door. In the evening, one can withdraw into the deep, upholstered
window niche in the west façade, look out into the garden or observe
what is happening in the room from the side. The communicative and
spatial centre is the large, specially made table. Supported by the deli-
berately eclectic mixture of green steel girders, white glazed boarding,
blue kitchen made of larch wood, light blue wardrobe, brown cowhide,
dark terrazzo flooring, brick fireplace, peripheral tie beams made of ex-
posed concrete and white lime, a stimulating ambience is created,
which is suitable for everyone and every occasion. In good weather, the
room can be opened up towards the garden, while in colder winter tem-
peratures the family members gather in front of the fireplace. In an un-
complicated way, the casual atmosphere of a summer house offers
ample space for the routines of everyday family life and for celebrations
with many small and large guests—with feel-good potential for everyone
Grundriss • Floor plan obviously being included. Postmodernism sends its regards!

AIT 7/8.2020 • 099